Wheels and wings to honor armed forces on Memorial Day

May 23, 2008|JESSICA FARMWALD Tribune Staff Writer

Antique cars, high school marching bands and even airplanes will take to the streets -- and skies -- on Monday in honor of America's troops as Memorial Day activities are planned in South Bend, Mishawaka and Osceola. This year, the 85th annual South Bend West Side Memorial Day Parade will kick off where it traditionally ends, in the former Kmart parking lot on Western Avenue. Spokesman James Evans said the route reversal is because of the difficulty of marshaling a growing number of units from the usual starting point at Ford and Olive streets. The number of entries for the parade jumped from 104 last year to an anticipated 122. "The parade has been a tradition for many, many years. At one time, it was down to nothing, but we revived it," Evans said. "Especially now, with people over (in the Middle East) dying ... we have to honor them." The parade will begin at 8:15 a.m. and reverse its usual route. From the former Kmart parking lot on Western it will turn left on Summit Drive, take another left on Ford Street and end near Lombardy Drive. Leftover parade funds will be used to provide two area high school students with $500 scholarships. The recipients, Chris Miko from New Prairie High School and Katie Hall from Marian High School, will be featured in Monday's parade. South Bend officials today will temporarily rename Ford Street "Memorial Day Drive" in honor of the annual Memorial Day Parade that will wind its way along that street Monday. The honorary street sign will be unveiled at 3:30 p.m. today at the corner of Ford Street and Lombardy Drive. The ceremony will include Mayor Stephen Luecke and organizers of the West Side Memorial Day Parade. In Mishawaka, troops will be honored with not just wheels, but wings, as the Mishawaka Pilots Club provides flyovers during morning memorial services and the Mishawaka Memorial Day Parade on Monday. "I think it will just add a little bit of patriotism (to the parade), and a showing for the Air Force," said Mike Miller, master of ceremonies for memorial services. The memorial services will take place Monday at the following times and locations:

6:30 a.m. at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.

7 a.m. at St. Joseph Cemetery.

7:15 a.m. at Mishawaka City Cemetery.

7:30 a.m. at Fairview Cemetery.

8 a.m. at Battell Park.

8:45 a.m. at the Main Street bridge over the St. Joseph River. Flyovers are anticipated at 8:35 a.m. at Battell Park and 8:45 a.m. at the Main Street bridge, according to Miller. A flyover will also highlight the beginning of the parade at 9:30 a.m. and follow the parade route, starting at the intersection of Third and Main street, turning left at Mishawaka Avenue and ending at Battell Park. The Mishawaka Memorial Day Parade will honor Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ryan A. Balmer of Mishawaka as its Veteran of the Day. Balmer was killed June 5, 2007, in Iraq. He graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1992, joined the Air Force in 1993 and served for 14 years. In Osceola, the parade will kick off at 8 a.m. It will begin at Oregon Avenue, move east along Lincoln Way West, turn north on Chestnut Street and then go west on Rogers Street. The parade will conclude at the Fern Hunsberger Park Fire Station. Parade Committee Chairman Randy Leliaert said that typically 3,000 to 4,000 people come out to see the parade. "It's neat to see people tailgating with their pots of coffee and doughnuts," Leliaert said.